It’s funny, no matter how great the handsets we currently have are already, we always seem to look to the future and to the rumor mill. This weekend a new rumor cropped up about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3, along with a few pictures that are allegedly of the device.

So what’s the latest word? The newest ‘report’ claims that the Note 3 will have a 5.99-inch Full HD 1920×1080 display, a massive 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, an Exynos 5410 Octa processor with the A15 clocked at 2.o and the A7 at 1.7GHz. It also talks about microSD support and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean right out of the box.

Sounds pretty impressive, but should we believe this new rumor? As with all rumors, don’t take it at all the full face value. While the rumor could be true, until Samsung gives us concrete information, we just don’t know. It is also worth noting that the images mention a model number of I9500 for the pictured device – for those that don’t know already, that’s the model number of the international Galaxy S4, which is more than a little odd.

What do you think of the screenshots, would you be happy if this is how the Galaxy Note 3 ends up looking or were you hoping that Samsung would change up their design aesthetics just a bit more? What all do you hope to see out of Samsung’s next-gen note-taking handset?

There is a lot to love about Samsung’s smartphones, including their unique software additions, powerful hardware specs and some even enjoy their TouchWiz UI. What most of us aren’t necessarily in love with is the plastic.

Don’t get me wrong, not everyone cares. I know there are Samsung fans out there that are perfectly content with the plastic designs found in the Galaxy series. Some of these fans would even rather see the plastic casing trend continue. As for those that would love to see a more polished metal body similar to the HTC One? A new rumor claims that this might be happening with the Galaxy Note 3.

According to the rumor, Samsung may ditch the polycarbonate casing this time around due to the fact that the HTC One has been striking up quite a bit of popularity as of late, in large part due to its premium design. And then there is other high-end metal-cased smartphones like the Sony Xperia Z or even the iPhone. Normally, you could probably dismiss this rumor completely, after all Samsung has been rocking plastic for a long time and didn’t change this pattern even with the Galaxy S4. That said, the rumor comes from sources reporting to SamMobile.

Considering the site’s clear focus on everything Samsung, they are a reasonably trusted source for this kind of information. Of course that doesn’t mean this won’t turn out to be nothing more than a rumor.

Outside of the metal body, the information from the SamMobile source simply states that Samsung will not use the design guidelines for the Galaxy S4. What else do we ‘think’ we know about the Note 3? It is rumored to have a 6-inch Full HD display (similar in size to the new Galaxy Mega line), an Exynos 5 Octa CPU with LTE, a 13MP camera and the latest version of Android, which hopefully means Key Lime Pie by the time the Note 3 arrives.

What do you think, any chance in hell that Samsung is really considering a major design change that will see a push towards a metal body design? Would you like to see a metal-cased Note 3 or do you really not care about the outer casing as long as it has plenty of power under the hood? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2013/04/15/samsung-note-3-metal-case/feed/0Could Apple Eventually Release a Smartwatch? (Rumor)http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/12/27/apple-smartwatch-rumor/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/12/27/apple-smartwatch-rumor/#commentsThu, 27 Dec 2012 15:05:13 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=143117Until the most recent update to the iPod Nano, one of the coolest things about the little iDevice was that it was very easy to turn the phone into a capable smartwatch.

Until the most recent update to the iPod Nano, one of the coolest things about the little iDevice was that it was very easy to turn the phone into a capable smartwatch.

Through the use of 3rd party watch straps, users would slap the music players onto their writs and would use the built-in clock app to make it work like a watch. There were even a few different clock skins for the Nano.

While the days of using the Nano as a watch are over, a new rumor claims that Apple might be working on an official smartwatch of their own. This space is continuing to increase with competition and interest, with projects like the Pebble smart watch coming to mind.

This is an area where Apple could certainly establish itself as a niche device for fans of their products. The claim is that Intel is developing this watch for Apple, interestingly enough.

The rumor suggests the watch will feature a 1.5-inch OLED display with ITO coated glass, but not much more is known about its specs or what kind of features it could bring to the table.

If this rumor has any true to it, it is more than likely the device would also work nice with syncing to other iDevices like the iPhone.

Though an Apple smartwatch doesn’t seem like that far of a stretch, keep in mind this is just a rumor and shouldn’t be taken too seriously until we have more concrete evidence.

Apple device rumors arrive all the time and yet never truly materialize as real products– we still regularly hear claims about a Smart TV from Apple, after all.

Would you be interested in purchasing an Apple smartwatch down the road if this is true?

This iPhone 5 concept video is pretty dramatic to say the least. Siri goes as far as tracking your packages to determine arrival time, reschedules your canceled flights, oh, and not to mention the pinch to zoom that expands your iPhone 5 in to an iPad Mini, and then a full size iPad. It’s nice to dream and all, the only realistic part about this video is that new Apple mini port connector, ok, and perhaps the finger print scanning too. Check it out for your daily gadget entertainment fix from Atma Studio.

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/09/06/crazy-iphone-5-concept-video-features-pinch-to-zoom-ipad-mini/feed/0Hands-On Video of New Black, Unibody Metal iPhone 5 Shell?http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/06/07/hands-on-video-of-new-black-unibody-metal-iphone-5-shell/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/06/07/hands-on-video-of-new-black-unibody-metal-iphone-5-shell/#commentsThu, 07 Jun 2012 08:33:48 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=134150What looks to be like the most legitimate piece of iPhone 5 info we have yet seen, this video of a black unibody iPhone 5 from ETradeSupply is quite convincing.

What looks to be like the most legitimate piece of iPhone 5 info we have yet seen, this video of a black unibody iPhone 5 from ETradeSupply is quite convincing. The back plate no longer has a back glass, in fact, there is no back plate at all. The entire phone is encased in a black aluminum shell, similar to the unibody MacBooks. Also, there is that new dock connector that we saw earlier which could be a new magsafe, the headphone jack has been moved to the bottom also, similar to the iPod line, and new speaker vents. Up next to the iPhone 4, this model does look as though it is a bit longer, thus giving more weight to the 4-inch screen rumor. They believe the SIM card holder is slightly smaller, this could mean a MicroSIM only slot, or something new all together. The video doesn’t show much more than the photos do, but it sure is nice to see it in someone’s hands. Stay tuned next week where we may see this unveiled at WWDC.

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/06/07/hands-on-video-of-new-black-unibody-metal-iphone-5-shell/feed/1New MacBook Pros On Thier Way?http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/04/04/new-macbook-pros-on-thier-way/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/04/04/new-macbook-pros-on-thier-way/#commentsWed, 04 Apr 2012 16:31:22 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=131869The newest batch of MacBook Pros are on their way and, according to DigiTimes, this means 200,000 initial monthly shipments of the Ivy-Bridge powered 15-inch MacBook Pros. This will be followed up by a 13-inch, thinner Pro in June that might have initial shipping numbers that are as high as 400,000 units.

The newest batch of MacBook Pros are on their way and, according to DigiTimes, this means 200,000 initial monthly shipments of the Ivy-Bridge powered 15-inch MacBook Pros. This will be followed up by a 13-inch, thinner Pro in June that might have initial shipping numbers that are as high as 400,000 units.

Consistent with previous rumors, the 15-inch Pro would go into first production and arrive as early as sometime this month. From what we’ve heard, Apple’s newest MacBook Pros are going to take a few cues from the Air and that means a much thinner design than we’ve ever seen before. It will be nice to see a retina display actually come to being. Supposedly, the Pros will ditch the optical drive to make them as thin as possible. These machines will likely come with Intel HD 4000 graphics and i7 processors.

Honestly though, this leaves me with a few questions of my own. Will the Air cease to exist and just be a configuration model of the Pro if they are indeed becoming the same size and general form factor? I also hope that Apple understands that there at least some users that would have interest in a built-in optical drive option, even if that means a slightly larger size. Honestly, slim drives don’t take that much space in my opinion. We are certainly moving towards an age with PCs where optical drives are disappearing, but is it too soon? I suppose the answer to that question will vary from person to person.

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/04/04/new-macbook-pros-on-thier-way/feed/1Xbox 720 Durango Going To Be A Powerhouse, Will Be Strictly Against Piracyhttp://www.mobilemag.com/2012/04/03/xbox-720-durango-going-to-be-a-powerhouse-will-be-strictly-against-piracy/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/04/03/xbox-720-durango-going-to-be-a-powerhouse-will-be-strictly-against-piracy/#commentsTue, 03 Apr 2012 12:33:06 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=131787The next generation Xbox (Xbox 720 maybe) codenamed Durango is expected to be an impressive gaming console. The latest rumors suggest that the machine is going to be a powerhouse, but will also be a big blow to the used games market.

The next generation Xbox (Xbox 720 maybe) codenamed Durango is expected to be an impressive gaming console. The latest rumors suggest that the machine is going to be a powerhouse, but will also be a big blow to the used games market.

According to VG247, Microsoft is planning to release the Xbox 360 successor during Christmas 2013, which is also rumored to be the launch timing for the PlayStation 4/Orbis, and the new console will feature either four or six core processors. It will also boast two GPUs that will be as fast as “two PCs taped together” and a built-in Kinect sensor.

The new rumor also suggests that the Durango will arrive with a Blu-ray drive. We are a bit doubtful about that info as we heard a lot of reports earlier that suggested the company was thinking about moving its content delivery to digital download only.

But what will be the most alarming info for many is that the Durango will require an internet connection at all times while it is being used. That move is most probably for combating used game sales. A mandatory internet connection could mean that there will be a requirement to authenticate discs and lock them to user accounts, and this would restrict the resale of games; if there are any discs that is.

But, of course, none of this should be taken without a pinch of salt. Do let us know whether you will be interested in the new Xbox if it comes with the above said features, and stay tuned for updates.

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/04/03/xbox-720-durango-going-to-be-a-powerhouse-will-be-strictly-against-piracy/feed/12iPad 3 Unveiling In Marchhttp://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/09/ipad-3-unveiling-in-march/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/09/ipad-3-unveiling-in-march/#commentsThu, 09 Feb 2012 17:37:57 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=129020Of course, we know from previous years experience that we can expect something new from Apple, most likely in March again. Since the Cupertino company has scheduled a big media event for the first week of March, AllThingsD says its the iPad 3.

There are already tons of rumors about the much anticipated Apple iPad 3 launch circulating. Of course, we know from previous years experience that we can expect something new from Apple, most likely in March again. Since the Cupertino company has scheduled a big media event for the first week of March, AllThingsD says its the iPad 3.

The back panel that you see in the above image is supposed to be that of the iPad 3. And when compared to the rear housing of the iPad 2, the new device appears to be coming with some changes.

According to available info, the new housing has been designed to fit a smaller logic board. The additional space might be there for a larger battery. From the looks of things an updated camera (rumored to be similar to the one on the iPhone 4S) is also coming, and the mystery housing also features a different LCD mounting system.

If indeed this is the iPad 3 rear panel, its arrival at this time suggests that the device is very close to being unveiled. A release in March or April is most likely, especially when considering hints from casing and accessory makers who showed off their products at CES 2012.

You might know that a longer battery life is one of the iPad’s strongest points. So the rumored bigger battery will be much needed if the company fits a 2048×1536 Retina Display, a quad-core processor and 4G LTE support into the next iPad. Customers won’t welcome a device with good specs but poor battery life.

And speaking of the Retina Display, there are rumors that the iPad 3 might feature Sharp’s IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) display. Besides delivering a high resolution of up to 330 dots per inch, these displays cost less to produce and there is no need for LED backlights. The display will also be thinner.

The latest info suggests that Sharp’s factories have increased the production of the IGZO displays. And there haven’t been any reports about the displays being available commercially. So where are they headed? Apple is certainly a possibility.

But there are also rumors about a dual light bar design for supporting high-resolution IPS display from Samsung and LG.

Is your head aching after all these speculations and rumors? Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long to hear an official announcement from Apple. But then the iPad 4 talks will start.

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/09/ipad-3-unveiling-in-march/feed/0Apple Macs To Feature Retina Display In The Future?http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/08/apple-macs-to-feature-retina-display-in-the-future/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/08/apple-macs-to-feature-retina-display-in-the-future/#commentsWed, 08 Feb 2012 13:57:45 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=128902This definitely is not something that can be pushed aside since already there are rumors flying around regarding a higher-resolution screen for the much anticipated iPad 3. Maybe the company’s plans for this year include HiDPI screens.

Rumors about upcoming Apple products are always hot topics, although most of them require more than just a pinch of salt. And it’s always a smart thing to keep yourselves updated about such hints because once in a while you come across something that is worth pondering about.

Apple recently released a Mac OS update which was pulled later on due to stability issues. But the update reportedly contained some high-resolution cursors. Some believe that these high-res icons indicate that Apple is preparing for future hardware upgrades such as a Retina Display for upcoming Macs.

This definitely is not something that can be pushed aside since already there are rumors flying around regarding a higher-resolution screen for the much anticipated iPad 3. Maybe the company’s plans for this year include HiDPI screens.

According to John Gruber of Daring Fireball, the info on the improved icons, when read with the reports about some Mac Minis booting into HiDPI mode after the update, might be pointing towards “HiDPI Mac displays and/or HiDPI MacBooks. I.e.: retina display Macs“.

Just in case “HiDPI” passed by you like a speeding bullet, it is a new tech which gives you ultra-sharp graphic elements without making them smaller. On traditional displays, the increase of the screen’s pixel density results in smaller elements. With HiDPI, an icon on the screen will have the same size no matter how many pixels it uses. So, same size but more pixels will give you a sharper object. Somewhat like vector graphics.

But, as always, we recommend a grain of salt for this as well. We will keep you updated on the matter. So stay tuned.

]]>http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/08/apple-macs-to-feature-retina-display-in-the-future/feed/1Apple May Launch iPad 3 in March And iPad 4 in Octhttp://www.mobilemag.com/2012/01/11/apple-may-launch-ipad-3-in-march-ipad-4-in-oct/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/01/11/apple-may-launch-ipad-3-in-march-ipad-4-in-oct/#commentsThu, 12 Jan 2012 04:23:20 +0000http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=127234According to a report published by CNet, Pegatron Technology, one of the leading manufacturers of Apple's iPad, has already begun filling the iPad 3 orders, the device which is rumored to be released in March.

According to a report published by CNet, Pegatron Technology, one of the leading manufacturers of Apple’s iPad, has already begun filling the iPad 3 orders, the device which is rumored to be released in March.

The new report also indicates that Pegatron Technology will be producing anywhere from 7 Million to 10 million iPad 4 units as well. This is according to a report published on the DigiTimes. According to the Rumor mill “Apple plans to launch the iPad 3 this coming March and then come back for another round in October with the “iPad 4,” where Apple will ship them with “killer applications”.

If there are going to be 2 iPad models launching in just one year, we can be sure of one thing; the first model of iPad to come out will not see many changes. As we reported earlier, iLounge reportedly got their hands on what is supposed to be the next iPad and in that report it has been made clear that the next iPad to come out will not be much different when it comes to looks. So it seems that the next iPad will be iPad HD or iPad 2S bringing only an upgraded processor, better camera, more RAM and storage capacity, we’re not sure about the Retina Display on this one.

It would be very hard to predict what the iPad 4 will look like or what sort of hardware changes it will bring along. But we will try to take a shot at it anyway. The iPad 4 (or whatever it will be called) will probably feature all the enhancements that iPad 3 will have but probably will have a Retina Display powered by A6 Chip, more RAM, LED Flash? All that wrapped in traditional aluminum unibody with a slightly redesigned look.